[Areae gastricae and varioliform erosions--the criteria concerning the quality of radiological examinations of the stomach (author's transl)].

Two hundred otherwise unselected patients had barium meal examinations for upper abdominal pain; in 93% of these the areae gastricae could be visualised on more than one third of the gastric surface. In 17%, i.e. 34 patients, varioliform erosions were found; these confirmed by gastroscopy in 11.5%, i.e. 23 patients. Varioliform erosions are a frequent cause of obscure upper abdominal pain or gastro-intestinal haemorrhage. Their diagnosis is therefore of great importance. Regular demonstration of the areae gastricae is associated with an increased ability to show these erosions and must therefore be regarded as a measure of the excellence of a radiological examination of the stomach.